Religious Orders honoured in local Jubilee celebration

Josephite Sister Colleen Howe

From large cities to tiny railway sidings, the imprint of dedicated religious men and women can be found to this day through liturgical celebrations, home visits, music, pastoral care, education, hospitals, and hospitality.

On 9 February, as part of the Jubilee Year: Pilgrims of Hope, Archbishop Christopher Prowse will celebrate the contribution of thirty different religious orders across the Canberra and Goulburn Archdiocese with a special Mass at St Christopher’s Cathedral.

Josephite Sister Colleen Howe said the numerous religious had played an integral part in the life of the Archdiocese.

“While not dwelling on the past, it is always good and appropriate to remember from whence we have come,” she said.

“Take a moment to pause and feel the heartbeat of the Archdiocese – unique, diverse and challenging in its very essence. Ministries have been life-giving to the individuals, communities and members of the wider community irrespective of religious beliefs.”

Sr Colleen said looking back over the years made it possible to appreciate the difficulties and challenges experienced by the early religious orders.

“They didn’t enjoy the comforts, mode of transport, spacious living commodities and, in some cases, the necessary qualifications to carry out the ministry to which they were assigned,” she explained.

“We learnt to know, love and serve generously and joyfully. As a teaching order, sisters were constantly on the move to go where there was a need – into isolated country areas and where families were struggling to make ends meet. The religious identified with the families with whom they share their faith – living simply, faithful to their religious calling and ready to be of assistance, whatever the circumstance.”

Sr Colleen said while life was tough for everyone in the earlier days, there was a spirit of joy.

“The people looked after the religious, and the religious cared for and shared with the people,” she said.

“In hindsight, one marvels at the faith, courage, generosity and adaptability of the pioneering religious; however, don’t we marvel too at the faith, generosity and courage of our parents and families who shared the journey.”

‘Never see a need without doing something about it’ continues to be at the heart of service in the Church today, Sr Colleen added.

“Strong community involvement has always been important to me,” she said.

“I consider myself especially blessed! I was born into and continue to enjoy the best possible family – my first and continuing family where the faith was and is valued. My Josephite family is precious to me and has given me opportunities to grow in my faith and personal commitment that I would not have otherwise enjoyed.”

Early in her religious life, Sr Colleen was given a poster that read ‘Bloom where you are planted’.

“I think this was intended to encourage me to recognise that ‘there where you are, you will find God’ and to be happy even when things didn’t always plan out as I had hoped,” she said.

“I guess I took that advice to heart because I have enjoyed all my appointments, been happy and have made lasting friendships along the way.”

Sr Colleen said the Jubilee Year called each of us to be a Christ person, a prayerful person, and a person of hope.

“Hope is the gift – grace that keeps us going when everything around us seems sheer nonsense!” she said.

“Today, more than ever, I believe we need hope and we rejoice in the Jubilee Year, appropriately named the Year of Hope. It doesn’t take much imagination in today’s world (and Church) to see why we are being encouraged to be people of hope. We are called to be a sign of contradiction in a troubled world, to reach out with a kind word, a helping hand, a simple ‘thank you’, a smile!”

• The Pilgrims of Hope Mass to celebrate the contribution of religious orders across the Archdiocese will be held at St Christopher’s Cathedral on Sunday, 9 February, at 11am. All are welcome.